Dentist.net Official Blog

The link between teeth whitening and cancer

For quite a while now, there has been a negative rumor about teeth whitening that has scared off many people from enjoying the bright smile they’ve always wanted. This rumor claims that the bleaching gels used for whitening your teeth can cause oral cancer!!! I mean it seems reasonable enough. Most bleaching gels are either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, both of which are highly-oxidizing and somewhat unstable. So it doesn’t seem too far a stretch to assume that these gels are also carcinogenic.
Thankfully, this rumor is nothing but a rumor. There’s absolutely no truth to it.
In the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry 2006 edition, a review done by over 4000 people found that hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide do not cause oral cancer. This is because the small amounts of gel applied to the mouth can’t affect anything in the small amount of time it is in the mouth. So those 30-60 minute sessions are not long enough for the gel to do any harmful changes to your mouth.
So to reiterate, there is no connection between whitening gels and oral cancer. As long as you follow all of the instructions on your bleaching kit, your whitening experience will be safe and easy.
Dentist.net has detailed teeth whitening instructions, including the amount of wearing time per gel strength.
Also, if you’re thinking about starting a whitening regimen, you’ll need a kit like the Nuvora White or the Dr.Collins All White to get you going on the right track. You can also get custom trays fitted to your own teeth from your dentist. Whitening is getting easier, safer, and cheaper every day, so there’s no better time to get that perfect smile you’ve always wanted.